The other day, my friend asked me, “Who is the LeBron James for today’s kids?” And I thought for a second and said… Still LeBron James. I am 27 years old, and I do not remember an NBA without LeBron James in it. Every basketball fan born after me feels the same way; anyone born in 2003 or later hasn’t lived in a world where LeBron James wasn’t in the NBA.
It’s not just fans, either. At media day, new Lakers forward Jake LaRavia came to grips with just how long LeBron has been active. “I’m 23… so yes, it is [crazy],” LaRavia said when asked about LeBron entering year 23.
He’s not even close to the youngest player in the league right now, either. Top pick Cooper Flagg was born five years after LeBron’s NBA debut. When Flagg came into this world, LeBron was approaching 10,000 points.
I know we say it a lot… but this is beyond unprecedented. James’ longevity is basically rewiring our brains and changing our understanding of aging in sports and in life itself. He’s an anomaly.
Maybe in 50 years it will become common for guys to play until they’re 40 years old. In that case, I’m going to be the grey-haired old man yelling about how LeBron was the first to do it and the kids of 2075 don’t have any respect for the players who paved the way. But right now, in 2025, we’re seeing something stunning. Actually, the Earth will be engulfed in flames by 2075 so I won’t have to worry about that. I digress.
Jake LaRavia joins expansive list of LeBron teammates
The list of LeBron James’ teammates is outrageous. We’re approaching 250 different players that he’s ever played with (and the players he’s played against is even more outrageous) and LaRavia will join Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton on that list when the season tips off.
LaRavia won’t be the most memorable of that large group, but he will play a considerable role on this year’s Lakers team. Just 23 years old, he’s played less than two full seasons’ worth of games in the league and has been pretty impressive in a good amount of those games.
Combined, LeBron and Jake LaRavia have scored over 43,000 points! Sure, LeBron has scored over 42,000 of those, but Jake is approaching his first 1,000, and that’s something to celebrate too, right?